City withstand Country comeback in
Lismore

Fulltime score:
City vs Country 2005
Country Origin 22 v City Origin 29

Match summary:
City have won the annual City v Country clash in Lismore tonight in a match that showed both the best and the worst of both sides.

City turned on the champagne early in the first half, while Country did everything they could to drop as much ball as possible and squander at least three good try scoring opportunities.

The Sydney-siders ran away to big lead in the first half with tries to Luke Lewis, Mark Riddell, Eric Grothe and Steve Menzies. Hazem El Masri added a penalty goal to make the score 22-0 at half time.

The Country team came out firing in the second half, with three tries in the first 10 minutes - two to Trent Barrett [pictured] and one to Amos Roberts. Anthony Watmough powered over to put City up by 10 again.

Some magic by the Country backs led to a try out wide to Amos Roberts, Luke Covell was unable to convert. The Country boys dropped the ball not long after the kickoff, setting Sherwin up for a particularly wobbly field goal to wrap the game up.

0 min: Kickoff in the first of the domestic representative matches in Australia at Oakes Oval, Lismore.

5 min: Trent Barrett is warned for hitting Menzies on suspicion.

6 min: TRY - City
Luke Lewis scores out wide after a break out earlier in the set. Play shifts right and Lewis scores comfortably near the corner.
El Masri kicks across the face of the posts.
4-0 City.

13 min: TRY - City
Mark Riddell dives over from dummy half on the back of a good hitup by O'Donnell.
El Masri slots the conversion, Oakes Oval is very quiet.
10-0 City.

17 min: TRY - City
City score after getting a good attacking set after another error by Country. Eric Grothe scores easily off a great pass by Mark Riddell from dummy half. El Masri hooks the conversion.
14-0 City.

38 min: TRY - City
Steve Menzies scores off his own grubber after Sherwin chips, regathers. Kicks to El Masri who bats it to Menzies who trickles a grubber into the in goal to score out wide.
El Masri lands the touchline conversion.
22-0 City.

HALF TIME - City lead country 22-0, with some champagne rugby league. Country have, to their credit, played very poorly.

40 min: The second half kicks off.

43 min: TRY - Country
Amos Roberts scores down the right wing, after he gets ankle tapped, gets up and scores. Try awarded by the video ref. Covell converts.
22-6 City.

46 min: TRY - Country
Trent Barrett scores from close range following a penalty not long after the kickoff.
Covell adds the extras.
22-12 City.

51 min: TRY - Country
Barrett grabs a double as first reciever off the scrum. He steps through the defence and scores under the black dot.
Covell converts. We appear to have a football match.
22-18 City.

55 min: SIN BIN - City
Ryan Cross is binned for a professional foul, tackling Preston Campbell after a long Country break.

58 min: NEWS - Preston Campbell has been KO'ed by John Skandalis' knee.